Methods for positioning a large load into a transport position and for positioning a large load into a storage position, trailer and/or lorry

ABSTRACT

A method for positioning a large load into a transport position is provided. According to the method, the load is placed upon a frame structure with a substantially horizontal extension. The raising device is placed transport plane underneath the frame structure. The raising device is then extended in a vertical extension reaching between the transport plane and the frame structure so that the frame structure and the load are raised above the transport plane and are held in position by the raising device. Subsequently, the vertical extension of the raising device is decreased into the transport position. Further, a method for positioning a large load into a storage position and a transport system for such methods are also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/084,958, filed Apr. 12, 2011 and claims the benefit thereof. U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/084,958 claims the benefits and priorityof European Patent Office application No. 10161253.9 EP filed Apr. 28,2010, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention concerns a method for positioning a large loadinto a transport position, preferably on a means of transport, the loadbeing placed upon a frame structure with an essentially horizontalextension, that frame structure preferably being held above ground by anumber of vertical structures. A “transport position” is defined therebyto be such a position in which the load is safely situated on a means oftransport or a kind of pre-position in between a storage position and afinal position on the means of transport.

The invention also concerns a method for positioning a large load into astorage position after a transport, the load being placed upon a framestructure with an essentially horizontal extension. A “storage position”is thereby defined to be such a position in which the load can be storedin a storage area such as a yard or the like, but also an intermediateposition from which the load is put into a final storage position orfrom which the load is transported furtheron later. Furthermore, theinvention concerns a trailer and/or lorry comprising a transport planeand also concerns a transport system.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The transport and storage of large loads is a particular challenge tothe transport, respectively storage, industry. This is even more so ifthe loads due to their extension and/or non-uniformity do not fit intoany packaging system such as containers and/or if the loads areparticularly heavy, i.e. above the weight that can be carried bynormally-sized lorries.

An example of such large and very heavy loads are large components ofwind turbines such as tower segments, rotor blades and nacelles. All ofthem have a substantial weight and do not fit into regularly-sizedstandard containers. In effect they are transported openly, i.e. theirprincipal shape is visible during transport. For the purpose ofillustration, in the following reference is only made to wind turbinenacelles, bearing in mind that this invention is also particularlyuseful for the other wind turbine components mentioned and indeed forother similarly bulky loads as well.

A wind turbine nacelle is typically installed on a transport and storageframe structure on which the nacelle rests stably. Such frame structureaccording to the state of the art is depicted in FIG. 1: A wind turbinenacelle 1 with a bottom opening 3 is loaded onto a frame structure 9comprising a longitudinal frame 5 and two cross beams 7 to which thelongitudinal frame 5 is connected fixedly. The nacelle 1 is removablyfixed on the frame structure 9 in the region of the bottom opening 3 ina stable way, i.e. its point of gravity 2 is positioned such withrespect to the frame structure 9 that no forward and backward and alsono sideward movement of the nacelle 1 is to be expected. Additionally,the nacelle can be bolted to the frame structure 9 to add stability.When assembled, the opening 3 serves as an inlet for the tower (notshown) of the wind turbine.

According to the state of the art, the nacelle 1 together with the framestructure 9 is loaded on a loading device 11 which is shaped like atrough having an inner longitudinal extension d₁ of approximately 7metres and an outer longitudinal extension d₂ of approximately 8,9metres.

To transport such construction comprising the nacelle 1, the framestructure and the loading device 11 on a local site such as afabrication yard, a harbour area or when loading (respectivelyoff-loading) it, e.g. on so-called roll-off-roll-on (ro-ro) boats,normally a transport crane is necessary. Such crane lifts the completeload from the ground onto e. g. a trailer or a lorry (before transport)or down therefrom (after transport, e.g. for further transport orinstallment). The use of such cranes is time-consuming and necessitatesspecial equipment and extreme care during loading.

In WO 2008/000267 A1 there is disclosed a nacelle with raising meansattached to it. Once lifted, the nacelle can be lowered onto a transportplane of a means of transport. That implies, however, that each nacellemust be equipped with such raising means and/or must comprise areas inwhich the raising means can be attached. This has the effect that suchsystem is quite expensive and requires some extra equipment.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In this light, it is an object of the invention to provide a possibilityof how a large load, in particular a wind turbine component, can behandled during and/or in preparation of and/or after transport in asimple and effective way.

This object is met by the features of the independent claims.

Accordingly, the above-mentioned method for positioning a large load,preferably a wind turbine component, into a transport position comprisesthe following steps:

-   -   placing a raising device on a ground and/or on a transport plane        of the means of transport underneath the frame structure,    -   extending the raising device in its vertical extension reaching        between the ground and/or transport plane and the frame        structure so that the frame structure together with the optional        vertical structures and the load is raised above ground and the        raising device holds them in position,    -   optionally, i.e. as a preferred embodiment if such vertical        structures are present, taking off the vertical structures, e.g.        by removing connection bolts or other connection means which        connect the vertical structures to the frame structure,    -   decreasing the vertical extension of the raising device into the        transport position. This way, the load is in a transport        position very little above the ground which means that its        overall height is at a minimum.

Thus, the invention makes use of a system comprising both a raisingdevice and in a preferred version vertical structures which can beattached and detached from the frame structure.

The raising device is positioned underneath the frame structure. Theframe structure is positioned either on the ground or elevated from it,preferably resting on the vertical structures. At any event, some spaceunderneath the frame structure must be available so that the raisingdevice can be put underneath it. It may be noted that the placement ofthe raising device underneath the frame structure may have happened wellbefore the start of the transport procedure, for instance during alonger storage of the load. It may, however, also be placed underneaththe frame structure right during the process of preparation of the loadfor transport, i. e. in a direct context of the other steps named above.

The raising device is then activated, which means that it is extended sothat it raises the frame structure, and with it the load and theoptional vertical structures, thus making possible a detachment of thevertical structures if present. These vertical structures can then betaken off, at least in part, which means that their length, i.e. theirvertical extension is reduced, preferably to zero. The result is thatthe frame structure with the load is held above ground completely by theraising device. By lowering the raising device, the frame structure andthe load can be brought into the desired transport position, e. g. on atransport plane of a trailer and/or a lorry.

In an analogous way, such a load can be positioned into a storageposition after a transport. A storage positioning method as mentionedabove comprises the following steps:

-   -   placing the frame structure with the large load on a raising        device situated on a ground and/or on a transport plane of a        means of transport,    -   extending the raising device in its extension reaching between        the ground and/or transport plane and the frame structure so        that the frame structure together with the load is raised and        the raising device holds them in position,    -   preferably attaching a number of vertical structures to the        frame structure,    -   decreasing the vertical extension of the raising device into the        storage position preferably so that the frame structure is held        above ground by the vertical structures.

The storage positioning method thus uses essentially the same steps asthe method for positioning a load into a transport position aspreviously described, only in the reverse way. It may be noted in thecontext of both methods according to the invention that the raisingdevice need not necessarily be situated on a means of transport but mayalso be positioned on the ground, e.g. on vertical structures, fromwhere the load is put into the transport position and/or where it is tobe transferred for arriving in the storage position. This can berealized for example by a raising device the raising means of whichprotrude through openings in a transport plane of the means of transportso that the means of transport can be put underneath the frame structureor taken away from it while the raising device holds the load in anelevated position.

In effect, the invention also concerns the use of a raising device forraising a large load in the context of the above-described methodsaccording to the invention.

The invention further comprises a transport method for transporting alarge load comprising the following steps:

-   -   a method for positioning a load into a transport position        according to the invention in preparation of the transport        and/or and a method for positioning a load into a storage        position according to the invention as a way of finishing the        transport and    -   a transport process in which the load is moved from one place to        another.

According to the invention, a trailer and/or lorry as mentioned abovecomprises a raising device which in its position on the transport planeis extendable in its vertical extension so that by means of the raisingdevice a load can be raised and held in position. This raising device ispreferably adapted in its size and/or shape such that it can be safelypositioned on the transport plane. Such safe positioning implies atleast that:

a) the raising device is firmly held on the transport plane. Forinstance, its shape can be such that it corresponds to a shape and/orposition of a holding device on the transport plane.b) the raising device does not project out of the overall profile of themeans of transport such as would be defined by the loading gauge of atrain or by comparable profiles of trailers or lorries.

The raising device is not necessarily permanently fixed to the transportplane of the means of transport but may be, for instance realized asjacks integrated into or mounted fixedly on the transport plane.

A transport system according to the invention comprises a means oftransport, preferably a trailer and/or lorry according to the inventionas explained above, and a number of raising means capable of performinga method for positioning a load into a transport position according tothe invention and/or a method for positioning a load into a storageposition according to the invention, respectively and a transport methodaccording to the invention. Thereby, the raising means preferablycomprise a raising device as described above positioned on the transportplane, and optionally additional means to raise the load. For example,the means of transport may already incorporate a raising structure suchas a hydraulic lifting mechanism for raising its transport plane from alower level to a higher level.

Particularly advantageous embodiments and features of the invention aregiven by the dependent claims, as revealed in the following description.Thereby, features revealed in the context of any of the methods may alsobe realized in the context of the other methods and/or of the trailerand/or lorry and/or transport system and the other way round unlessexplicitly stated otherwise.

Preferably, the frame structure comprises a number of longitudinal beamsand/or a longitudinal frame orientated in parallel to a longitudinalextension of the load and a number of cross beams which are essentiallyperpendicularly orientated to the longitudinal beams and/or thelongitudinal frame. Such frame structure stabilizes the load in both itslongitudinal extension—by the longitudinal beams and/or frame—and itsextension perpendicular to the longitudinal extension—by the crossbeams. In addition, it is possible to attach the vertical structures atany end, be it the longitudinal end of the frame structure or the end ofthe cross beams, which latter is particularly preferred: This way, atransport plane can easily be driven underneath the frame structurealong the length of the load and of the longitudinal frame, respectivelybeams. It may be possible in some circumstances to omit the steps ofattaching or taking off vertical structures because they might be eithernot present or have such a shape and/or length that a removal and/or asubsequent re-attachment is not necessary. For example, the framestructure itself may be realized such that a raising device can beinserted underneath without the need for a vertical structure. Anotherpossible example is that vertical structures have such little extensionthat they are no obstacle during transport of the load if they remainattached to the frame structure.

Concerning the vertical structures, it is preferred that they arecomprised of legs that are detachable from and attachable to the framestructure. Again, an attachment of the vertical structures to the crossbeams is most preferred for the above-given reasons. Legs, i.e. beamswith one or several feet are preferred because they require little spaceso that a means of transport can be driven alongside of them. Thereby,the feet of one leg can be interconnected by a connection beam in orderto provide more stability of the legs.

The raising device can be for example a kind of table with a planehorizontally orientated which can be raised e. g. hydraulically whileremaining in its horizontal orientation. A particularly advantageousembodiment consists of a raising device which is comprised of a numberof extendable, preferably hydraulic beams which are orientatedvertically. The beams are preferably such that in operation they movesynchronously in order to maintain the same level at all of their ends.For that purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the raising devicecomprises a control unit that monitors and/or synchronizes the movementof the beams. The beams can be positioned such that they connect to theframe structure at specially designated raising points, e. g. fittinginto orifices the shape of which corresponds to the shape of the beamsat their tip which meets the frame structure. In this embodiment, theframe structure is lifted at several discrete points which makespositioning of the raising device easier with respect to the framestructure. For example, the tips of the hydraulic beams may correspondin their position to the cross beams or to the longitudinal beams of theframe structure which makes sure that the load and the frame structurerest stably on the raising device.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the raisingdevice is non-stationary. This means that it is not permanently fixedeither to the ground or to the means of transport on which it rests, sothat it only rests there temporarily. A major advantage of such choicecan be seen in the fact that the raising device can be usedconsecutively for lifting several loads on a site and/or on a means oftransport because after the accomplishment of one job, it is again freeto be transported elsewhere and to be used again. A means of transportdoes not need to be equipped with a stationary raising device whichmakes the overall equipment less complex and less costly. It isparticularly preferred that the raising device is equipped with rollersat at least one side, so that its transport can be carried out at easewithout any additional device which would lift the raising device andtake it away. Rather it can easily be torn away from its current site ofoperation to another site.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the raisingdevice is stationary on a transport plane of a means of transport. Thatcan be advantageous in such cases, when the means of transport is mainlyused for transport of such large loads. In such cases, due to thepossibly very high weight of such raising devices, loading and unloadingof the raising devices onto and from the transport plane may prove toocomplicated so that it may be preferred to keep it on the means oftransport on a constant basis. In such case, the raising device may bepermanently fixed to the transport plane.

While different means of transport can play a role in any of the methodsaccording to the invention, it is preferred that the means of transportis a trailer and/or a lorry with a transport plane upon which theraising device is positioned and which transport plane is movedunderneath the frame structure. A trailer or lorry can manoeuvrerelatively freely so that its transport plane can be positioned easilyunderneath the frame structure. In addition, a lorry or trailer cansupport the raising process: preferably, the transport plane of thetrailer and/or lorry is raised or lowered functionally independentlyfrom the raising device. Thus raising and/or lowering the load on theframe structure can be accomplished in a combined way, one part of theraising action done by the raising device, the other part by the trailerand/or lorry.

Preferably, when using a trailer and/or lorry, the transport plane isdivided into at least two plane parts, a first plane part being part ofa first trailer and/or lorry and a second plane part being part of asecond trailer and/or lorry, which plane parts are joined togetherunderneath the frame structure. This means that the first plane part isdirected underneath the frame structure from a first end—preferably afirst longitudinal end—and the second plane part from a second end whichis the opposite end of the load. Underneath the frame structure, thosetwo parts are joined together so that they form a uniform planestructure together. The transport plane may also comprise more than twoplane parts, e. g. three plane parts whereby one plane part may berealized as a middle part which joins the first and the second planeparts together or the like. Alternatively, the transport plane may bepart of either a trailer or a lorry. The trailer or lorry with thetransport plane can then be joined at an end of the transport plane to alorry or trailer with no transport plane thus forming a unit comprisingboth a trailer and a lorry and with the transport plane in between themas the connecting element.

It must be explicitly noted that the method for positioning a load intoa storage position according to the invention can be further enhanced byany of the features described above with respect to the method forpositioning such load in a transport position. The advantages can beseen in analogy to those of the latter method.

Concerning the transport method, according to a preferred embodiment thevertical structures are both detached and attached from and to the framestructure, whereby the vertical extensions of the vertical structuresdetached are different to the vertical extensions of the verticalstructures attached. This means that the load is initially positioned ata different level of height than after the transport method. Thevertical extensions of the vertical structures, reference to which ismade in this context, are measured from the ground and/or the transportplane of a means of transport to an attachment point at which thevertical structures are attached to the transport frame. For instance,small vertical extensions, in particular legs, can be used in thestorage position in combination with transport cassettes which can thenbe used as sea-fastenings on ro-ro boats.

Concerning the raising means of the transport system according to theinvention, it preferably comprises a raising device, most preferably araising frame with at least one longitudinal beam and at least one crossbeam and with beams extendable in length which project from the frameplane of the raising frame. Such rather simple construction, theextendable beams of which are preferably realized as hydraulic beams, israther easy to manufacture and to transport and can be adjusted in itsshape by positioning the longitudinal and cross beam(s) in such a waythat their positions correspond with the surface of the transport plane.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed descriptions considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that thedrawings are designed solely for the purposes of illustration and not asa definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference numbers refer to like objectsthroughout. Objects in the diagrams are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 shows in a side view of a nacelle on a transport frame accordingto the state of the art,

FIG. 2 shows a section view along a line A-A of a nacelle on a differenttransport frame useable in the context of the invention in a first stepaccording to an embodiment of a method according the invention,

FIG. 3 shows the same section view as in FIG. 2 in a second stepaccording to an embodiment of a method according the invention,

FIG. 4 shows the same section view as in FIGS. 2 and 3 in a third stepaccording to an embodiment of a method according the invention,

FIG. 5 shows the same section view as in FIGS. 2 to 4 in a fourth stepaccording to an embodiment of a method according the invention,

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the raising device of FIGS. 2 to 5,

FIG. 7 shows a section view along a line B-B in FIG. 6 of the sameraising device,

FIG. 8 shows a schematic block diagram of embodiments of all thedifferent methods according to the invention,

FIG. 9 shows a side view of a means of transport according to anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 has already been explained above in the context of thedescription of the state of the art.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show four different steps or stages of an embodiment ofboth principal methods according to the invention: In a viewingdirection from FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 there is shown a sequence of anembodiment of the method for positioning a large load into a transportposition. In a viewing direction from FIG. 5 to FIG. 2 there is shown asequence of an embodiment of the method for positioning a large loadinto a storage position.

Principally, all four drawings show the nacelle 1 with its bottomopening 3 being attached to the frame structure 9 of which, due to thecross-section, there can only be seen one cross beam 7. The framestructure 9 is the same as in FIG. 1. However, it is not held in aloading device like in FIG. 1, but rather standing on four legs asvertical structures, of which two legs 13 a, 13 b can be seen in thesection view. These two legs 13 a, 13 b are attached to both ends of thecross beam 7—accordingly the other two legs are connected to the secondcross beam which is hidden in the drawing. In between the legs 13 a, 13b underneath the frame structure 9 there is a space in which a part of ameans of transport, here a transport plane 37 of a lorry is inserted.The transport plane 37 ends on either side with longitudinal holderbeams 17 in between which a raising frame 15 is positioned as a raisingdevice. The holder beams 17 hold the raising frame 15 in position,whereas in other words the raising frame 15 is realized such that it isfirmly held by the holder beams 17 of the transport plane 37. It may benoted in this context that to make up a transport plane 37, this canalso be realized by the two holder beams 17 only, because these have ashape that defines a transport plane even without a plate or such beingin between the two holder beams 17. The raising frame 15 compriseshydraulic beams 19 at all four ends, two of which can be seen in thesection view.

Going from FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, the following sequence can be made out:

In FIG. 2, the transport plane 37 with the raising frame 15 is insertedunderneath the cross beam 7. In FIG. 3, the transport plane 37 is raisedby activating a lifting means incorporated in the lorry of which thetransport plane 37 is a part. Thus, the raising frame 15 is also raisedto a certain extent. In FIG. 4, the beams 19 of the raising frame areextended in length so that now, the cross beams 7 together with thenacelle and with the vertical legs 13 a, 13 b is raised above ground.Therefore, the nacelle 1 is raised above ground and the legs 13 a, 13 bare hanging down from the cross beams 7. They can now be detached fromthe cross beams 7. FIG. 5 shows the assembly without the legs 13 a, 13 band with the hydraulic beams 19 lowered down to their previous positionknown from FIGS. 2 and 5. The cross beams 7 now rest on the holder beams17, i.e. on the transport plane 37.

As mentioned before, this process can—after a transport of the nacelle 1to another destination—be reversed so that an embodiment of the methodfor positioning a large load into a storage position—the position shownin FIG. 2—can be carried out.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the raising frame 15. It comprises a coupleof longitudinal beams 21 aligned in parallel and a couple of cross beams23 also aligned in parallel. The longitudinal beams 21 show a line ofthrough holes 27 which can be used to fix the cross beams 23 atdifferent positions and also to fix a connecting wire 25 whichinterconnects diagonally the longitudinal beams 21 to give the shape ofthe raising frame 15 more stability by putting it under a certaintension. At any of the ends of the cross beams 23, thus aligned with thearea where the cross beams 23 and the longitudinal beams 21 meet, thehydraulic beams 19 protrude out of the plane of the raising frame.

This can be seen clearer in the section view in FIG. 7 showing a sectionalong a line B—B of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a transportmethod Q according to the invention including both a method P forpositioning a large load into a transport position and a method O forpositioning it into a storage position, with a step V in between whichstep V comprises moving the transport good from one location to another.

The methods Q, P, O are described in the context of FIGS. 2 to 5. Thatimplies that initially the large load, i.e. the nacelle 1 is placed onthe frame structure 9. This frame structure 9 is held above ground bythe legs 13 a, 13 b.

The method P for positioning the nacelle 1 into a transport positioncomprises a first step Z in which the raising frame 15 is placedunderneath the frame structure 9. After that, in a step Y, the hydraulicbeams 19 are extended (as can be seen in FIG. 4). This way the framestructure 9 is raised together with the nacelle 1. In an optional stepX, the legs 13 a, 13 b are taken off while in a step W, the hydraulicbeams 19 are driven back into their previous position. The nacelle 1 nowrests on the transport plane 37 of the lorry and can be moved in step V.

The method O for positioning the nacelle 1 into a storage positionincludes a step U in which the nacelle 1 is placed on the raising device15. This placement has happened already in the course of the previouslydescribed method P. In step T the hydraulic beams 19 of the raisingdevice 15 are extended so that the frame structure 9 with the nacelle iselevated. In an optional step S the legs 13 a, 13 b are attached to theframe structure 9 and in step R, the hydraulic beams 19 are driven backinto their initial position, so that now the nacelle 1 on the framestructure 9 rests on the ground again.

FIG. 9 shows in a side view a means of transport 41 according to anembodiment of the invention. The means of transport 41 is a low loadercomprising as two sub-means of transport a lorry 29 and a trailer 31.The lorry 29 rests on four wheelsets 39, and the trailer 31 also restson four wheelsets 43. Two transport planes 33 a, 33 b of the lorry 29and the trailer are interconnected with a coupling 35 so as to form acombined transport plane 37. On this transport plane 37, there rests araising frame 15 of the kind as described in the context of FIGS. 6 and7 and thereupon a load 1′ on a frame structure 9 both of which are justshown schematically. The load 1′ in particular may take any shape, butthe means of transport is particularly useful for the transport of windturbine components as previously explained.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form ofpreferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood thatnumerous additional modifications and variations could be made theretowithout departing from the scope of the invention. While a nacelle wasused as a basis for the description, the transport system according tothe invention may be used to good effect in transporting any other largeloads. The raising device can also be realized in a different form thanthat of a mere raising frame.

For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or“an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and“comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.

1. A transport system, comprising: a transport plane; and a raisingdevice mounted in a position on the transport plane, wherein the raisingdevice in said position on the transport plane is extendable in avertical extension, allowing a load to be raised and held in position.2. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the raising devicecomprises a raising frame with at least one longitudinal beam and atleast one cross beam, and a plurality of beams extendable in lengthperpendicular to transport plane.
 3. The transport system according toclaim 2, wherein the plurality of beams that are extendable in lengthcomprise hydraulic beams.
 4. The transport system according to claim 1,wherein the transport system further comprises one or more transportvehicles on which the transport plane is disposed.
 5. The transportsystem according to claim 4, wherein the transport plane is divided intoat least a first plane part and a second plane part coupled to eachother, the first plane part disposed on a first transport vehicle andthe second plane part disposed on a second transport vehicle.
 6. Thetransport system according to claim 4, wherein each of the one or moretransport vehicles is a lorry or a trailer.
 7. The transport systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the raising device comprises a pluralityof extendable hydraulic beams orientated vertically.
 8. The transportsystem according to claim 1, wherein the raising device is equipped withrollers at least at one side, for transportation of the raising device.9. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the load comprisesa nacelle of a wind turbine.
 10. A transport system, comprising: atransport plane having a first plane part and a second plane part; and araising device mounted in a position on the transport plane, wherein theraising device in said position on the transport plane is extendable ina vertical extension, allowing a load to be raised and held in position,wherein at least a portion of the raising device is carried on each ofthe first and second transport plane parts, and wherein at least aportion of the load is carried on the frame structure by each of thefirst and second transport plane parts.
 11. The transport systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the raising device comprises a raisingframe with at least one longitudinal beam and at least one cross beam,and a plurality of beams extendable in length perpendicular to transportplane.
 12. The transport system according to claim 11, wherein theplurality of beams that are extendable in length comprise hydraulicbeams.
 13. The transport system according to claim 10, wherein thetransport system further comprises one or more transport vehicles onwhich the transport plane is disposed.
 14. The transport systemaccording to claim 13, wherein the first plane part and the second planepart coupled to each other, the first plane part disposed on a firsttransport vehicle and the second plane part disposed on a secondtransport vehicle.
 15. The transport system according to claim 13,wherein each of the one or more transport vehicles is a lorry or atrailer.
 16. The transport system according to claim 10, wherein theraising device comprises a plurality of extendable hydraulic beamsorientated vertically.
 17. The transport system according to claim 10,wherein the raising device is equipped with rollers at least at oneside, for transportation of the raising device.
 18. The transport systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the load comprises a nacelle of a windturbine.